A SURGE in demand from both private and fleet customers has led Mazda to bring forward the on-sale date for its revamped Mazda 6 models.

Petrol versions of the popular family range will hit showrooms in the next two weeks with diesels to follow during May.

The new 19-strong range features refreshed exterior and interior styling, more equipment and a raft of technical enhancements that improve fuel economy by up to 6.4 per cent and cut CO2 emissions by up to 6.1 per cent.

Fans of the ‘6’ will have a choice hatchback and estate body styles, six engines - three petrol, three diesel – and S, TS, TS, and Sport trim grades.

Improved fuel economy, lower road tax bands and reduced Benefit In Kind costs will bring valuable savings, though prices have been by an average of 4.8 per cent and range from £16,990 to £23,445.

A new 2.0-litre DISI petrol engine delivers 155PS – up from 147PS – while the lower power 2.2-litre diesel generates more power and torque – up 4PS to 129PS and up 20Nm to 340Nm at 1,800rpm.

The highest power 2.2-litre diesel now produces 180PS (down 5PS) but modifications to the turbocharger boost pulling power and fuel economy.

A Sport 2.0-litre petrol model with Mazda’s five-speed automatic transmission is introduced after dealers reported a demand for a top of the range model with this specification.

The upgraded Mazda6 achieves fuel economy average improvements of 3.2 and 4.1 per cent for petrol and diesel, plus CO2 emissios reductions that average 4.4 and 4.8 per cen, so the lower power 2.2-litre, 129PS diesel hatchback now has a rating of just 138g/km.

Upgraded equipment now includes ‘smart’ turn indicators and Emergency Stop Signal for all models.